http://www.essexrestaurants.com/ 209-1291 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/colchester-venues/colchester-restaurants/the-lemon-tree-colchester-essex.html I visited this restaurant with my girlfriend during the Christmas and New Year period and was surprised to find that the service was slow despite the serious lack of custom in the restaurant at this time. I did think that the food was what I would describe only as 'OK'and nothing to write home about. I have to agree with a previous reviewer that the toilets were not up to scratch which again is poor given the lack of customers at this time of the year and the place appeared fully staffed. I have been here a few times in the past prior to the theatre and it has gone down in its overall standards which is a shame. Looking at the website I wondered if the owner has expanded too soon and maybe in areas out of his league? Either was my girlfriend was not impressed and like many we wont be in a hurry to go again soon. ]]> Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:51:57 +0000 209-1194 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/colchester-venues/colchester-restaurants/the-lemon-tree-colchester-essex.html They always say visit the toilets in a restuarant to find out how clean the kitchen is - in this case dont bother! They were terrible and so was the food! Log wait, sent back, cold, staff with attitude and not value for money - need I say more? We were a party of 4 and the bill was very expensive in total and we were very upset and wont be returning - think twice and compare with other restaurants who pride themselves on their quality and service. ]]> Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:56:10 +0100 209-949 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/colchester-venues/colchester-restaurants/the-lemon-tree-colchester-essex.html The afternoon started poorly and went downhill. The wine was warm when if arrived, they kindly changed this with apologies. The starter was advertised as retro prawn cocktail. Perhaps by retro they mean the tired poor quality prawns has been in the fridge since the 1980s. The main Arrived and the presentation was excellent it's a shame the frozen and precooked cod wouldn't have been welcome at captain Birdseyes table. The orange coloured green curry impressed nobody but the kitchen hand who had obviously been picked every ounce of meat from the chicken thighs and legs to fill the meat content. We waited for 20 mins for being asked if we would like dessert before giving up and going to the till to ask for the bill. Worst meal I have had in years. Service was good when you seen someone. Try KFC or even burger king instead their food is fresher. ]]> Sat, 21 Aug 2010 15:29:43 +0100 209-752 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/colchester-venues/colchester-restaurants/the-lemon-tree-colchester-essex.html I was there for a meal on my 21st birthday, before a night out with friends. there was a large group of us, a of whom had an excellent time, the service was good but not amazing. The food however was outstanding ]]> Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:12:00 +0000 209-747 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/colchester-venues/colchester-restaurants/the-lemon-tree-colchester-essex.html Well I have to agree with the 'sour' comments made regarding this establishment. I attended a business lunch last week and requested a table move due to some very loud and inconsiderate people beside us. The Manager did this reluctantly but we all noticed that after this we were pretty much ignored. He must have been having a bad day but no respect for customer service or satisfaction I have to say! The food was nothing special I have to say and due to this reception we will not be rushing back. Overall unimpressed - plenty of competition in Colchester for establishments that want to fight to stay trading. JB ]]> Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:30:34 +0000 209-745 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/colchester-venues/colchester-restaurants/the-lemon-tree-colchester-essex.html the staff all had attitude on our visit. its such a shame this is a typical example of how not to run a restaurant. ]]> Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:21:56 +0000 209-675 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/colchester-venues/colchester-restaurants/the-lemon-tree-colchester-essex.html I agree taht everyohne shoudl be given a chance looking at the last review but I went at the weekend and got a cold main meal. I told the waitress and was not even offered another choice even though by now I did not want to eat my meal. I also found the cutterly and a wine glass to be dirty. I think standards at this place have ceetainly slipped and I would think twice bfore going back. 2 out of 10 overall! ]]> Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:45:11 +0000 209-595 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/colchester-venues/colchester-restaurants/the-lemon-tree-colchester-essex.html I have eaten at the LT many times at different times of the day and do not understand a few of the negative comments here. I have always found the standards and cleanliness to be very high and the food of a good quality and well presented and certainly well cooked. The LT does indeed have an excellant reputation locally, but maybe because I am comparing it to the standard chains that bring food in from factories. I strongly recommend the LT and suggest you give it another try ! ]]> Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:10:17 +0100 209-566 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/colchester-venues/colchester-restaurants/the-lemon-tree-colchester-essex.html My husband and I went to this place a few nights ago before attending the theatre. Not a good expereince I am afraid to say. We waited ages before being served semi cold starters which were supposed to be hot! We spoke to whom we thought to be the Manager and got nothign buy attitude from him resulting in us feeling that all the problems were our fault! We wont be going back and all we said when we left was this certainly is a sour lemon tree restaurant! ]]> Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:46:04 +0100 209-551 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/colchester-venues/colchester-restaurants/the-lemon-tree-colchester-essex.html Well I think everything is mostly said when the toilets in a restaurant place get the highest rating dont you!! Not impressed with The Lemon Tree, its food or its service. My friend and I called in after work for a quick bite before heading to the cinema. It was not busy but we were kept waiting for sometime before out starter arrived and then when we asked for a break before the main course (so we could have a cigarette)all we got was fluttering eyelashes and sighs from the staff. We found to food to be of average quality but potentially very swiftly cooked and subsequently a little cold in places. The prices certainly DO NOT reflect the type of food we ordered, the current economic climate or anything that consititutes value in anyway! We loved the ladies it smelt nice and the soap was decent. However overall we were unimpressed and wont be heading there again whilst there are more value for money or even fast food outlets in the area. ]]> Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:53:51 +0100 209-509 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/colchester-venues/colchester-restaurants/the-lemon-tree-colchester-essex.html Well after taking my elderly father to this place after hearing it was one of the best in Colchester I have to argue the difference with whoever said that?? My main meal was a steak which I sent back a total of 3 times and it was still not cooked to my requests! This is a basic expectation when I visit a restaurant sorry! My poor father disliked his starter and main and found something in his veg that it was not possible to even discrib let alone put a name on! I would say not too hot on the hygiene stakes and lacking overall in customer service and how to be friendly. We wont be going again sadly. ]]> Tue, 19 May 2009 17:32:19 +0100 209-334 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/colchester-venues/colchester-restaurants/the-lemon-tree-colchester-essex.html I fully agree with the other review on this site - I visited the LT some weeks ago with my parents and found it to be a little dirty. My main meal had a hair in it and my father was very sick when he got home and we wonder just how clean this establishment really is?? The toliets were also of a poor standard - they always say you can judge a place by its toilets and kitchens!

Not sure if this is one for another visit - only from environmental health!! Sorry LT but you have many lessons to learn as yet! ]]> Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:12:18 +0100 209-293 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/colchester-venues/colchester-restaurants/the-lemon-tree-colchester-essex.html We were overall dissapointed about our experience at this restaurant.It really was a waste of tiem and we would ever venture there again. The Jazz menu was very expensive(£23 for only 2 courses)and we all generally thought that the food was badly presented and of a poor quality. This is suprising given the high status of the owner and his apparent committment to the food industry - we never saw any committment!

We arrived at about 9pm and were seated quickly but from that point on everything was just done too fast. One of my party ordered the salmon which was cold when it came out - nothing worse than cold fish! We also found the prices of the wine and beers to be very high and this is clearly where the money is made.

If you want a good value, quality driven and professioanlly served and attended meal DO NOT go to The Lemon Tree. ]]> Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:38:25 +0100